On the 1 July 2011, the Tsukuba Global Innovation Promotion Agency was established as an organization to advance partnerships between academia, industry and government in the Tsukuba area. Following this, on the 22 December 2011, the prime minister approved the joint application from Ibaraki prefecture, Tsukuba city and Tsukuba University for the “Tsukuba Comprehensive Special Zone for International Competitiveness Development – Promotion of ‘Life Innovation’ and ‘Green Innovation’ Using Science and Technology Amassed in Tsukuba”, resulting in the area’s designation as a nationally recognized “Comprehensive Special Zone”. The “Comprehensive Special Zone for International Competitiveness Development” is a system established with the aim of encouraging the growth of internationally competitive businesses, and is one of the centerpieces of the government’s strategy for growth.

At each of the institutes in Tsukuba Science City, intense efforts are being made to overhaul the environment for research development and to secure outstanding foreign human resources not just domestically but from overseas as well. In order to encourage plenty of foreign researchers, exchange students and overseas corporations, it is important that a desirable living environment is created in which both the individuals concerned and their families can live comfortably and with peace of mind and security.

In this project, an intersectional portal website for institutions, including governmental organizations, within the Tsukuba Comprehensive Special Zone for International Competitiveness Development was produced. In doing so, it is aimed to provide an informational environment in which all foreign residents of Tsukuba can easily access and utilize information resources regardless of their affiliated organization, living area or position.